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“I’m an educator.” With that declaration, Kirsten Smith convinced members of the Mountain View School Board that she should join them. She fills the Region 1B seat of Louise Cator of Uniondale, who was elected barely more than a year ago, and who recently died unexpectedly. Ms. Smith will have to stand for election in 2 years.

Seven candidates showed interest in the position; six of them appeared at the March Board meeting on the 2nd. Each offered a brief profile, and responded to questions from Board President Tracy Flynn. Ms. Smith was the most voluble, providing a summary resume, including teaching English in Newark, New Jersey.

Originally from Wisconsin, Ms. Smith has been in the area for 10 years, and is currently employed as Director of Career Services with Fortis Institute, a for-profit career training outfit under an umbrella organization headquartered in Utah. Among other things, she is on the board of the county Women’s Resource Center. She has 3 children, all now in college.

Following the Lord’s Prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, Mr. Flynn asked for a moment of silence to honor the board’s late colleague, Louise Cator.

Members then heard a report from the Student Government’s liaison to the Board, outlining the activities of the SGA and the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), not to mention the senior class trip in March to Florida, and an Art Club trip to New York City.

FINANCE

Business Manager Tom Witiak and Superintendent Michael Elia reported that they are hard at work devising a budget for next year, without offering any details. “We’re entering the weeds,” said Dr. Elia. No one on the Board seemed curious about their progress. The Board heard brief reports from Patty Button on budget requests for technology, and from Maintenance Supervisor Tim Chidester. Neither seemed to be asking for any major increases. A couple of Board members asked Mr. Chidester about specific items; he mentioned new sidewalks at the high school, and a decrepit side-by-side vehicle that he doesn’t plan to replace.

Jason Richmond was elected the Board’s official treasurer for the remainder of the fiscal year; Ms. Cator filled had filled that role. Mr. Richmond read out a summary of the treasurer’s report for February 2026, which showed a healthy balance of almost $4.5 million in the general fund, with over $5 million total in the bank to last out the year until July.

The Board also named its newest member (that is, before Ms. Smith), Chase Poplawski to be the district’s representative on the board of the Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit (NEIU #19) from July 2026 through June 2029. And they approved the IU’s budget for next year without comment. NEIU #19 spends well over $30 million per year, financed in part by contributions and fees from its 20 member districts.

PERSONNEL

An agenda item was added at the last minute: Allison Bluhm, Elementary School Nurse, and teacher Charleene Martens have announced their intention to retire at the end of the current school year. The Board also accepted the resignation of Athletic Director Alex Pashchuk, and approved posting and advertising for his replacement. Interestingly, Michele Pavelski resigned her position as Junior High Head Softball Coach, to be replaced by Lacie Jagger, who had been the assistant coach. Ms. Pavelski was then approved as a volunteer softball coach.

Mr. Chidester still has an opening for a full-time custodian.

OTHER ITEMS

The Board approved Mark’s Driving School, LLC to offer behind-the-wheel driving instruction for the next school year. Students will be responsible for the cost of this instruction.

The Board approved a calendar for the next school year. It should be available soon on the district’s website.

The Board approved a “Program of Studies” for the next school year. A new course in “personal finance” is to be offered to 10th-grade students for a half credit. Asked about the teaching of cursive writing, Bridget Frounfelker, Director of Curriculum, said that it has been taught in the Elementary School for several years already.

Ms. Frounfelker gave a brief summary of the new Comprehensive Plan that the Board will need to approve by the end of March. State law requires public school districts to refresh these plans every 3 years. The old one on the website covers 2023-2026 and is 72 pages long; the new proposed one on the website is in Microsoft Word format only, and is 50 pages long. It was developed by a broad-based committee of administrators, staff and community members and covers many of the schools’ challenges, with four areas of primary focus: attendance, assessment, mathematics proficiency and ELA (English) achievement. There’s a lot of detail, and not for the faint of heart. Ms. Frounfelker also noted an unusual number of mandates coming down from the state this year (including the teaching of cursive writing).

Special Education Director Erica Loftus proudly reported that the Mountain View “unified bocce” team will be going to a state tournament. Unified bocce brings general education students together with children in special education to play the game of bocce as a way of merging some athletic abilities across disability.

The Mountain View School Board will meet once more in March, on the 30th – to approve the comprehensive plan, among other things. Meetings are held in the Zick Boardroom in the Elementary School building, and begin at 7:00pm.

Save the date! The first annual Nine Partners Day is slated for Saturday, May 23, 2026 in the grand metropolis of Harford to commemorate the establishment of the community, and to celebrate the grand opening of its newly renovated ballpark. Festivities will begin at 9:30am at the monument in the center of the village, to be followed by a parade to the park for three ballgames, food, treats and music.

Harford was settled by nine partners from Attleboro, Massachusetts in the spring of 1790. (It was named for Hartford, Connecticut, but they purposely left out the “t” to add distinction.) Nine Partners Day was celebrated a few times over the years; now it’s hoped to become a truly annual event.

Harford Township Supervisor Robert Rex has been planning for this since the dead of winter. He and a small band of followers, including Dana Empet and Erika Gething, along with Township Secretary Carolyn Jennings and her assistant, Alexis Starbuck, met on the afternoon of March 4th to sketch out the schedule of festivities. Mr. Rex has some 30 volunteers lined up; he would like as many vendors to attract a crowd. T-shirts have been designed, by Kathy McCann of Harbella Designs, for the volunteers, and maybe some for purchase.

The group hopes to have a band from the Mountain View schools to help dedicate the equally grand pavilion at the park, erected as an Eagle Scout project by Ms. Empet’s son, Alex, who is now in college. Mr. Empet is so far keeping to himself the name of the person to whom he wants to dedicate the pavilion.

It promises to be a grand day for Harford and its new park. Mark it on your calendar.

During the regular monthly meeting held on Monday, March 2, 2025 lengthy discussions and questions were held on sewer bill delinquent accounts. The delinquent accounts are costing the borough residents money employing Solicitor Marissa McAndrew filing liens on the property that may or may never be paid. Liens are sent out after the home owner reaches a delinquency of $2,500 or more. Discussions were held over many months and Borough Council has motioned to move forward to add sewage fees to the County and District Real Estate Tax on the 2027 tax bill. Council discussed the need to be diligent in their process and are looking to implement a rebate or tax credit to the disabled and senior citizens. Solicitor McAndrew will work on that part of the Ordinance. Councilman Bernie Scalzo along with Council members stated this is in the preliminary stages and they need to work further on the exact implementation to assure a smooth transition. If that is impossible for the 2027 tax bill, they will move it to 2028.

Solicitor McAndrew informed Council members lien letters were sent and three people responded. One paid in full and 2 or 3 will be entering the payment plan. More letters will be going out once the $2,500 amount has been reached on their account.

Cindy Stone chose an option with First National Banks Dejavoo iPOSpay system which enables residents to pay by credit card at the Borough office or residents can pay online.

Positive news for the Borough, the Soup/Chili Off was a huge success. A total of 177 supporters came and taste tested. Council and Mayor thanked Apricity for supplying free drinks for the day and a huge thanks to the Forest City EMS for the use of their facility. Mayor Nicholas Cost thanked Channel 16 for their coverage. The 1st Place Soup winner was AJ’s of Carbondale for Meatball/Vegetable Stroganoff; 2nd Place was K’s Kitchen for Creamy Chicken/Sausage Gnocchi; and 3rd Place was Allison Pierzga for Merry Me Ground Beef Soup. The Chili winners: 1st Place Mike Linde; 2nd Place Katie Zefran.

Councilman Scalzo reported the Borough received 22 ton of salt and they are waiting for warmer weather to start laying down the cold patch. He acknowledges many potholes in the roads but there is a process to putting down the patch.

Councilwoman Eileen Lynch reported on Code Enforcement stating there were 5 issues in February and 11 rentals were inspected and 2nd notices were sent to landlords that did not respond to the 1st notice.

Mayor Cost informed the public in attendance and Council that cars without proper inspection must be moved off the roads. Speeding is still an issue and citations will be given.

Borough Council have been working on an ordinance that will address the issues plaguing the Borough on the repair and restoration requirements for all pavement and road shoulders. Council motioned to advertise Ordinance 529-2026 Pave Cuts to be adopted at the next Council meeting to be held at 6:00pm on April 6th at the EMS building.